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What Are the Best Tips to Crochet Blanket Edging?
A crochet blanket edging can be used to add the finishing touch to any size homemade blanket, from the smallest baby covering to a king-sized bedspread. A crocheted edging can be used on blankets made from many different materials, including fleece, cotton, and wool. The body of the piece does not need to be crocheted in order to benefit from a crochet blanket edging; choosing a complementary color and pattern for the edging is the best way to get a great finished result. Basic crochet skills and supplies are all that are needed to produce most edging patterns.
A yarn that is compatible with the center portion of the blanket should be selected for best results. Ideally, the chosen yarn should match or complement the blanket in color and weight; it should also have the same or very similar washing instructions. Enough of the same dye lot of the yarn should be purchased to complete the entire crochet blanket edging. Buying the yarn all at once ensures the color will be consistent throughout.
For any crochet project, it is better to buy too much yarn than too little; leftovers can always be used for another project. The ideal yarn for a crochet blanket edging will be a similar weight to the rest of the blanket as well. Choosing a fine yarn for a lightweight blanket and a bulky yarn for a heavy blanket will provide the best finished results.
Choose a crochet hook in the size recommended by the yarn manufacturer for best results. The ball band on the skein of yarn selected for the crochet blanket edging should list the recommended size hook to use. The crochet edging pattern should be one that matches the crafter's skill level and which will go well with the center portion of the blanket. Most edging patterns are flexible enough to suit a variety of blanket styles.
There is no special preparation required to add a crochet blanker edging to a piece that has been crocheted or knitted. Due to the nature of the fabric, there will be holes along each edge to anchor the crochet blanket edging. Pieces made from woven or dense fabric will need some preparation before an edging can be added.
Woven cotton or flannel pieces often receive a blanket stitch edging first. Hand stitching a blanket stitch around the edge of the piece provides a base for the crocheted edging. Fleece or felted wool blankets can have small holes punched around the edges; then the crochet trim can be added by anchoring it in the holes.
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Discussion Comments
If you want to add a vintage or classic look to an item, adding a fringed crocheted edging adds a unique touch. I also like to take a plain blanket or throw and make it really stand out by adding special edging.
I recently finished a granny square throw, and wanted something that would give it a finished look, and tie the whole thing together.
I couldn't find a pattern of exactly what I was looking for, so made my own crocheted edging pattern. It was the combination of two rounds of chain loops finished off with a shell border. It ended up being just the right combination of stitching for the perfect finish to my throw.
One nice thing about crochet edging is you can be as creative as you like with it. There really isn't any right or wrong way to do it, as long as you are consistent all the around the piece of material you are working with.
One thing I would caution you on is to make sure the yarn you are using for the edging is compatible with the material. You don't want to finish off a blanket that is washable with a wool yarn that can't be thrown in the washer and dryer.
My grandma taught me how to crochet, and she was always adding edging to many of the items she made.
I have pillow cases, linens, blankets and table runners that have a crocheted edging added to them. Some of them are made with very fine yarn that gives them a very light and lacy appearance.
My grandma enjoyed adding this special touch to her projects. It usually took longer to finish the project, but the effort was well worth it. You can make a cheaper blanket or dishcloth look really special with a crocheted edging all the way around.
I like to customize blankets and dish towels with a crochet edging. If you are buying a blanket that is already made, it works best if there is already an edge sewn around the blanket.
If I just want to add a crochet edge to a piece of unfinished fabric, I will sew a blanket stitch around the fabric so I have something to attach my yarn to and it won't unravel.
It is fun to personalize items with a certain color of yarn when making a crocheted edging. I had a fleece blanket in pastel colors that I crocheted a shell border all away the around. This made the blanket look nicer and also makes the blanket a little bit bigger.
This was originally the size of a lap blanket, but the edging made it a little bigger, which I felt added a nice touch.
I like adding a crochet edging to a plain baby receiving blanket. I think this adds a nice touch and gives a special homemade look that shows you put some effort into it.
I love to crochet, but don't have as much time as I would like to devote to it. If I know I have a baby shower coming up, it doesn't take me very long to crochet an edging around a couple of receiving blankets.
This makes a nice gift, and I feel like I have put some time into it without spending nearly as much time as it would if I had crocheted the whole blanket.
I get a lot of compliments on them, and love working with the soft, pastel yarns they have for baby blankets. I use yarn that will hold up well, as I know how often these receiving blankets get washed and dried.
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